REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
BY: Edward Chinevere, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
JENNIFER SOLIZ, Division Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Action pertaining to proposed changes to the fees for Camp Fresno, Camp Fresno Jr., and Riverside Golf Course:
1. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing City’s Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department to administratively update the Master Fee Schedule annually to update fees for Camp Fresno, Camp Fresno Jr., and Riverside Golf Course to reflect the twelve-month percentage change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 579th update to the Master Fee Schedule Resolution No. 80-420 to adjust fees for Riverside Golf Municipal Golf Course and Camp Fresno (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution authorizing PARCS to administratively update the Master Fee Schedule fees for Camp Fresno, Camp Fresno Jr., and Riverside Municipal Golf Course, on an annual basis, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI (Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Area); and
2. Adopt the attached Resolution adopting the 579th update to the Master Fee Schedule Resolution No. 80-420 to add increase fees for Riverside and Camp Fresno, and incorporate CPI language and notations for certain specified fees.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Camp Fresno and Camp Fresno Jr. are operated by the City and located near Shaver Lake on Sierra National Forest property. PARCS is requesting to administratively update the fees annually in accordance with the annual changes of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI). This gradual increase will align with the growth of comparable market rates. The funds generated would be used to pay for ongoing maintenance of facilities and replacement of aging infrastructure. Rates would be adjusted annually on January 1st to reflect the twelve-month percentage change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI (Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Area), for the most current month that data is available.
Riverside Municipal Golf Course is owned by the City and located along the San Joaquin River in Northwest Fresno. PARCS is requesting authority to administratively update the fees annually in accordance with the annual changes to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI consistent with the 2019 Amended and Restated Lease and Agreement for the Provision of Golf Course Operations at Riverside Municipal Golf Course.
BACKGROUND
Camp Fresno was constructed in the Sierra National Forest under a permit by the United States Forest Service. The camp is located approximately sixty-two miles northeast of Fresno and was opened in 1926 to provide low-cost camping experiences for groups and families. Camp Fresno consists of 60-plus cabins and shared facilities. In 1956, four acres were added to the permit, and Camp Fresno Jr. was constructed. Camp Fresno Jr. offers group housing which accommodates up to ninety people, and includes two dorms, three cabins, a dining pavilion, and a fully equipped kitchen.
Many years of below market rental rates have not generated sufficient revenue to adequately fund the maintenance of the camp infrastructure. General Fund dollars have been periodically used to fund capital improvement projects which otherwise would not have been funded. Prior to 2015, rate increases for the camps were sporadic and did not include annual increases. In 2015, resolution 2015-234 was adopted to annually increase the CPI beginning January 1, 2017, for five (5) years, this resolution ended in January 2021. There is no current annual CPI increase for Camp Fresno and Camp Fresno Jr. rental rates.
PARCS is proposing that rates be administratively adjusted each year on January 1st to reflect the twelve-month percentage change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI (Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Area), for the most current month that data is available. By annually increasing rates at the camps, the Department would be better situated to maintain and enhance the infrastructure including ongoing lifecycle replacements of roofs, foundations, electrical and plumbing, and other structural necessities as well as necessary repair and maintenance of grounds including but not limited to path and roadway maintenance, and tree removal.
Riverside Municipal Golf Course was built in 1939 for the City. On August 30, 1985, the City entered into a lease management agreement with EBIT, Inc./CourseCo, Inc. (EBIT) to operate Riverside Municipal Golf Course (Riverside). On August 17, 1999, September 17, 2009, and subsequently on March 1, 2019, the City Council approved to enter into and extend the agreement with EBIT to continue operations for a period of ten years.
Effective each and every year of the current agreement, green fees may be adjusted in an amount not to exceed the twelve-month percentage change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI (Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Area), for the most current month that data is available (the "CPI Increase"). The CPI Increase shall be calculated by adding the total sum of CPI increases from all green fee categories. The CPI Increase may be applied in part or in its entirety to individual rate categories so long as the sum of the combined green fee increases does not exceed the total CPI Increase.
EBIT and PARCS are proposing that select rates be updated in accordance with the attached fees and administratively adjusted each year on January 1st to reflect the twelve-month percentage change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI (Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Area), for the most current month that data is available. The proposed increase would not exceed the total CPI increase. The annual increase is comparable to fees at other comparable public golf courses in Fresno County.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Authorizing PARCS fee schedules is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines § 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as this item does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund.
Attachments:
Resolution - Granting authority to adjust rates administratively
Resolution - 579th update to the Master Fee Schedule